It’s not surprising that many of the world’s most successful people share similar qualities and traits. You’ve probably observed or heard of some of them; being proactive, getting up early, ruthless prioritization, etc.

There is something that contributes to the success of many of them that isn’t quickly apparent, however.

Successful people surround themselves with other successful people.

You’ve probably seen this and assumed it was a by-product of that person’s success. That is rarely the case. There is an old adage that you are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with.

Take a minute to think about that, then take an inventory of who you spend most of your time with.

The holidays are fading fast in our rearview mirror. As we make our way through January, everybody is diligently keeping to their New Year’s resolutions, right? If you are – great! I commend you. The truth is that almost a third of all New Year’s resolutions won’t make it past the first month of the new year. That’s probably not surprising to you – in fact, I was surprised it wasn’t higher. Let’s take a look at why New Year’s resolutions fail and a few alternatives to this annual tradition.

Bad Timing

Statistics show the majority of New Year’s resolution makers vow to improve their health – usually through eating better or exercising more. Meanwhile, there is leftover Christmas candy sitting in a bowl on the counter and a fruitcake in the fridge. Let’s not even get into the fact that January 1st falls the morning after what is considered the most alcoholic of holidays. I don’t know about you, but dieting or exercising is the last thing on my mind when I’m nursing a hangover.

Goal setting is an important practice that can benefit everyone. Even if you don’t read self-improvement books or engage in any form of personal development, you still probably set goals for yourself in one form or another.

Goal setting can be as simple as dedicating an entire day to just one project so you can get it done before an important meeting. It can also be much more complex — though people who practice complex goal setting usually understand that is what they are employing as they go through the process.

So, there’s a lot of material out there about how to set smart, effective goals. But what do you do if you don’t really know what your goals should be?

Here’s where I can help. I’ve outlined my process for goal setting, including how to identify, organize and prioritize your goals — and how to put your plan in action.